Turtles released into Madinat Jumeirah shores to mark start of World Economic Forum

DUBAI // Ten turtles – including five outfitted with satellite tags so they can be publicly tracked – have been released into the shores of Madinat Jumeirah to mark the start of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Sunday.

The turtles were returned to the waters after undergoing rehabilitation with the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah and Madinat Jumeirah.

One 70kg loggerhead and four young hawksbill turtles were released with satellite tags in addition to two green turtles and three hawksbill turtles.

They can be tracked here over the coming months.

The turtle release was hosted by Jumeirah President and Group CEO Gerald Lawless and French-American explorer, filmmaker and diver Celine Cousteau, grand-daughter of conservationist Jacques Cousteau.

“Since 2004, we have been enormously proud to support the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project, which has successfully rehabilitated and released 710 turtles to date,” said Mr Lawless. “We are also honoured to welcome the World Economic Forum’s Summit on the Global Agenda 2014 back to its home in Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah. This event brings together leaders from across the globe to discuss issues that impact our world and introduce solutions for a better future. Therefore we are delighted to mark the occasion with a special release of 10 turtles back into their natural habitat.”

The rescued turtles had all been nursed back to health by the DTRP, one of the longest standing corporate social responsibility initiatives in the region and the only project of its kind in the Middle East. New technology and smaller tags weighing just 39 grams enable the team to monitor smaller, younger turtles. After this release the DTRP will have tagged 29 turtles to date.

Based at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah and Madinat Jumeirah, the project is run in collaboration with Dubai’s Wildlife Protection Office, with essential veterinary support provided by the Dubai Falcon Hospital and the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory. The day-to-day running of the project and the animal husbandry is managed by Burj Al Arab’s dedicated aquarium team.